Multiple sources who formerly worked at the Republican National Committee believe Jay Banning, longtime Chief Financial Officer and head of Human Resources at the RNC, may be both the man responsible for the national party’s insurance policy covering elective abortions and the source for the leaked story about its existence.

Banning, who is openly gay, is described by many as a pro-choice liberal who clashed with social conservatives on staff. He served as Director of Administration and CFO of the RNC since 1983, and his duties covered the negotiations with Cigna, the insurance provider for the party organization. He was in charge of Human Resources in 1991 when the policy was first put in place.

Banning was fired by Michael Steele after 33 years of work at the RNC in May, but reportedly still functions as an on-call adviser for the current leadership as the result of a “secret pact” signed between Steele and his foes within party leadership in May.

Our sources indicate Banning was both the person likeliest to know that the Cigna policy covered elective abortions (other Republican groups using Cigna, such as the NRCC, did not choose that option) and someone with an axe to grind both with Steele, social conservatives, and the national party. There is no indication, according to Politico, which originally broke the story, that anyone ever used the RNC policy to obtain an abortion.

Steele was quick to say that he was working to change the policy.

“Money from our loyal donors should not be used for this purpose,” Chairman Michael Steele said in a statement. “I don’t know why this policy existed in the past, but it will not exist under my administration. Consider this issue settled.”

Banning did not respond to requests for comment from the New Ledger.